Glasses

At a recent eye check, Lu didn't fare so well. And then Tucker said he couldn't read far away stuff very well. So we made an appointment at the ophthalmologist. Lucy's vision is a bit off, but not too bad. Tucker. Well his poor eyes aren't great. First off he has amblyopia which means he has to wear a patch a couple of hours a day. And his vision is pretty junk. I feel so bad for him. Lucy came home from school the first day after getting them and was excited because everyone thought she looked so cute. Tucker said he hated them. I just wish they didn't need glasses. I've never had them (although I really can't read signs and stuff as well as I used to), and I just wish they didn't need them either. But I do think they look cute in their glasses.

(not pictured: T without the patch in his other pair)

Fall Break

My kids were out of school on Friday and Monday. Not sure the exact reason why, but I am calling it Fall Break. It was great. On Thursday night we decorated the house for Halloween, watched a movie, and ate pizza. That is what constitutes a "party" at our house, unless you are Clara who got all dressed up to go to a party and was bitterly disappointed when all we did was eat dinner in front of a movie. Anyway, no one else minded. On Friday there was a school ice skating activity and after we drove down to Provo for some park time and dinner with cousins. My sister and her family are up from AZ for their own Fall Break. Lucy stayed at Madi's for a sleepover and we brought Max home with us. The next day we met up at Cornbelly's, another Thanksgiving Point activity. I was surprised by how fun it is. It reminded me of Vala's pumpkin patch in Omaha, one of the things we miss from our midwest days. We had a great time, and ended the evening with delicious carbonara courtesy of Millie and Mom. Sunday we met up again for Sunday dinner and cousin time. Yesterday, with cold weather, I was forced to go buy some winter clothes. Now it is back to the daily grind. I sure love long weekends!

The 2 year old crowd grazed for a long time on Uncle

Stephens delicious grapes. They are so cute I could graze

on them!

I thought this maze was really hard and

would probably have spent the whole weekend

if Emily wasn't getting texted directions.

When we got out Rob told me it only took

them 10 minutes. Sheesh.

They had a princess section at Cornbelly's and

Clara was in heaven. She danced and danced and

danced.

Buried Treasure

It started when we were reading a paper Tucker wrote for school. They have been studying the story of Peter Pan in literature and they had to write a paper about if they wanted to grow up or not. Tucker picked grow up, so he could study Indians whenever he wanted, so he could get a cool job, so he could boss people around, and lastly so he could get rid of his siblings. Anyway, after some hurt feelings and a little discussionI told them a little story. My sister Maren used to drive me crazy. I had this amazing doll house collection and I would tell her over and over, "It is just for looking, not for touching." We shared a room and more often then not, when I got home from school my precious FRAGILE collection would be strewn across the room. I told my kids, I couldn't stand her! But now, she is coming to town for the weekend and I could hardly wait to see her. Just wait, I said, when you grow up, you will love your siblings and want to spend as much time with them as you can, even if they make you crazy now.

Well this led to me remembering my doll house collection. My Dad made us a doll house for Christmas one year, and slowly I took it over. When I was in fourth grade and we were in England I went nuts and began my miniatures collection in earnest. I think I collected until I was about thirteen. For the last twenty years or so the collection has been boxed up. The kids were curious to see it so we pulled out the box and I showed them all my little treasures. What fun! I'd forgotten all about it. Looking at it brought memories back of scouring Hamley's Toy Store on Regents Street, and all of England for suitable miniatures for my little Victorian doll family. No wonder Maren couldn't keep her mitts of it! (It was fun to see all the wonky things I had made by hand as well).

my pewter obsession began in miniature form. I

still love that basin and pitcher! I bought it in a little shop

in the the shambles in York.

The red Victorian furniture was my first big purchase

from Hamley's if I remember correctly. I saved my pounds

up faithfully!

This is by far one of my favorite pieces.

I love this cake on it's glass stand. So fun!

This set was I think my second big purchase. Maren broke

the sink but I fixed it right up!

Clara having "piano lessons" on the organ my Dad

helped me make from a kit.

A Fall Day Up Big Cottonwood

Rob was on call this last weekend. On Monday morning when he didn't get up at the crack of dawn I was curious. "Why aren't you getting up?" I asked. It was a post call day and he had it off! That was a pleasant surprise. Finally, he is feeling the love. Life as a fellow is pretty nice. So on his day off we headed up the canyon with Clara (who is way to heavy for the backpack these days) for a hike. We stopped at the S curve and hiked up and up and up. It was very steep. But the views and the fall leaves were well worth the painful climb. I love fall better than any other season, by far. I love it, I love it, I love it.

It was so nice we decided to take the kids up to Silver Lake that evening for a FHE picnic and a walk around one of our favorite places. It was so beautiful. I love fall. I love the colors, I love the browns and the reds and oranges. Not to mention apples taste so much better, the air is so pleasantly crisp and cool, and everything is just so amazingly beautiful. I think God's good taste shows to best advantage in the fall. It was fun. I hope we can get in a few more canyon jaunts before all the leaves are gone.

(there was a hole bunch of these crazy sink holes in part of the forest. they were very fun to explore and we wonder how they were formed.)

moose tracks (not the ice cream variety)